[ausev] Series hybrids

John Penry at Texrocks jpenry at texrocks.com
Tue Dec 4 23:48:53 GMT 2007


SWRI in San Antonio did some analysis.  Interesting to see their cost 
analysis when gas was "only" $1.65 per gallon.
http://www.swri.org/4org/d03/vehsys/presPDFs/5Engine%20China%20HEV%20Laptop_rev%2002.pdf

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Carey King" <careyking1 at gmail.com>
To: "AustinEV News Announcements and General Discussion" 
<ausev at austinev.org>
Sent: Tuesday, December 04, 2007 9:23 AM
Subject: Re: [ausev] Series hybrids


> Thanks for all comments on series vs. parallel hybrids.
>
> In terms of the discussion not being simple - what I am particularly
> interested in is a complex discussion in some kind of journal paper or
> something similar.  Being more energy efficient (due to a motor running
> at constant speed) for a series hybrid but having to figure a way not to
> have a trailer carrying the generator quite a design tradeoff and the
> basics of the argument. Not having to size a generator as precisely to
> limit power demand for a parallel hybrid is an advantage that might
> outweigh higher efficiency.  It would be interesting to see how each
> design concept has become more feasible over time and what the limiting
> design factors are going forward.  The fact that parallel hybrids
> already exist on the road in a mass manufacturing sense can't be because
> they have no advantages.
>
> Carey
>
> Charlesvsi at aol.com wrote:
>> It's not quite as simple as series and parallel, because the power
>> train structure and computer control programming enter into the
>> discussion.
>> For a great overview of Hybrid Vehicle Drivetrain, go to Wikipedia,
>> the free encyclopedia (redirected from Series Hybrid).
>>
>> Our ''04 Honda Civic Hybrid is another example of a power
>> assist hybrid. The programming does not allow electric only driving,
>> but with the CVT (continuously Variable Transmission) the computer
>> controls the speed of the gas engine, the ratio of the transmission
>> and amount of electric motor boost. Ours 1.4 liter gas engine runs at
>> 3000 rpm most of the time, at highest efficient speed providing 44
>> mpg. When climbing hills in cruise control on, the electric drive
>> starts to help hold the speed of 73.5 and then the rpm goes up
>> providing more gas engine power, transmission is changing ratio to
>> hold the speed. On Montana mountains on I 90,  steep incline it still
>> holds 73.5 mph but rpm goes up to 4500 while we pass the trucks etc.
>> going over the hill. Going down the other side the automatic
>> regenerative braking charges the large batteries getting ready for
>> next hill.
>>
>> ps, we get 36 mpg in town usually, and over 40 mpg on most highway
>> driving not in mountains.
>>
>> The components of gas engine, electric motor, transmission, and
>> computer programming determine the performance and the mileage at any
>> given moment.
>>
>> Chuck S.
>>
>> In a message dated 12/3/2007 9:09:43 P.M. Central Standard Time,
>> jpenry at texrocks.com writes:
>>
>>     The series Hybrid would be more efficient, from the documentation
>>     I have
>>     found.
>>     Using fuel to generate electricity is more efficient than an ICE
>>     engine.
>>     Parallel only uses the electric up to 30 or so mph, then the gas
>>     engine
>>     takes over, so they are only using the electric for the power in
>>     lower
>>     speeds, and letting the ICE take over when only 60 or 70 hp are
>>     needed.
>>
>>     I believe a series hybrid would get much more mpg than a
>>     parallel.  Think
>>     locomotives.
>>
>>
>>     ----- Original Message -----
>>     From: "Carey King" <careyking1 at gmail.com>
>>     To: "AustinEV News Announcements and General Discussion"
>>     <ausev at austinev.org>
>>     Sent: Monday, December 03, 2007 8:49 PM
>>     Subject: Re: [ausev] Series hybrids
>>
>>
>>     > Does anyone have a basic Pro and Con description/comparison of
>>     parallel
>>     > versus series hybrids?
>>     >
>>     > I kind of thought myself that the reason Chevy Volt is going for 
>> the
>>     > series is that Toyota must hold most of the patents on the parallel
>>     > versions, not that the series is inherently any better. But I 
>> really
>>     > don't know of the advantages and disadvantages of each.
>>     >
>>     > carey
>>     >
>>     > John Penry at Texrocks wrote:
>>     >> Somehow, GM thinks that they can produce a series hybrid in the
>>     Volt.
>>     >> Maybe
>>     >> the Volt is what the software industry calls "Vaporware"????
>>     So far, the
>>     >> youtube videos show it to be smoke and mirrors.
>>     >>
>>     >> I have run across many stories of people who have created "home
>>     made"
>>     >> series
>>     >> hybrids -- such as the one about using a turbine engine to power a
>>     >> Hummer,
>>     >> and getting 60 to 80 mpg.
>>     >>
>>     >> With a 72 mile round trip daily, and no way to charge up, it
>>     looks like I
>>     >> may have to keep my 31 mpg Honda.
>>     >>
>>     >> If someone can build a series hybrid, I would buy it.  i think
>>     they would
>>     >> easily get 60 to 80 mpg, and could even be powered by renewable
>>     fuels.
>>     >>
>>     >> John in Seguin
>>     >>
>>     >>
>>     >> ----- Original Message -----
>>     >> From: "Christopher Robison" <chris at ohmbre.org>
>>     >> To: <ausev at austinev.org>
>>     >> Sent: Monday, December 03, 2007 5:54 PM
>>     >> Subject: Re: [ausev] Series hybrids
>>     >>
>>     >>
>>     >>
>>     >>> On Mon, 2007-12-03 at 17:26 -0600, John Penry at Texrocks wrote:
>>     >>>
>>     >>>> Thanks for the information.  I have a 36 mile trip each way
>>     to work,
>>     >>>> and
>>     >>>> no
>>     >>>> way to plug in while at work.
>>     >>>> I was thinking that creating a series hybrid similar to the
>>     GM Volt,
>>     >>>> would
>>     >>>> be easier to do using a pickup, and I had thought that the 
>> engine
>>     >>>> compartment could be used to place a motor from a motorcycle,
>>     >>>> snowmobile,
>>     >>>> or
>>     >>>> small diesel.  After going by and taking a look at the Ford
>>     Rangers on
>>     >>>> display this weekend, I'm beginning to wonder where all that
>>     electronic
>>     >>>> stuff is going to go.
>>     >>>>
>>     >>>> I have read the work on the AC Propulsion Long Ranger, and
>>     thought that
>>     >>>> it
>>     >>>> could go under the hood, and the batteries - only needing a
>>     40 mile
>>     >>>> range
>>     >>>> there would be a savings in weight and space required for the
>>     >>>> batteries,
>>     >>>> and
>>     >>>> that could be used for the generator.  Maybe I'll have to
>>     wait for some
>>     >>>> of
>>     >>>> the electronics to get miniaturized.
>>     >>>>
>>     >>> The electronics are not really your problem. Based on lead-acid, 
>> a
>>     >>> typical conversion filled with batteries with no space for a
>>     generator,
>>     >>> usually gets about 35-40 miles.
>>     >>>
>>     >>> Using lithium (at 10 times the price for the same energy 
>> capacity)
>>     >>> reduces required volume for the same energy by at least half,
>>     and weight
>>     >>> by a factor of 4 or more. This would allow room for the
>>     generator, but
>>     >>> probably not one large enough to allow arbitrary range (just
>>     guessing
>>     >>> here) if you're limited to options available off the shelf today.
>>     >>>
>>     >>> The only way to do this in a small/light enough package is
>>     with a small
>>     >>> engine running at very high RPMs (as the Long Ranger did) and a
>>     >>> generator head capable of generating the appropriate voltage
>>     at that
>>     >>> speed. As I understand ACP used their (very expensive) AC150
>>     motor for
>>     >>> that purpose. I have no idea what the Long Ranger sounded
>>     like, but I'm
>>     >>> going to bet that it screamed, and would not last long in
>>     normal use.
>>     >>> High power density in a generator is a pretty tough nut to
>>     crack. That
>>     >>> Ossa manages it with diesel in under 600 pounds is pretty
>>     impressive in
>>     >>> my opinion, but that's still over 15 cubic feet.
>>     >>>
>>     >>>
>>     >>>
>>     >>> --
>>     >>> Christopher Robison
>>     >>> chris at ohmbre.org
>>     >>> http://ohmbre.org          <-- 1999 Isuzu Hombre + Z2K + Warp13!
>>     >>>
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>>     >>>
>>     >>>
>>     >>
>>     >>
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>> /Chuck Simms/
>> Director, North Austin M.U.District #1
>> e-mail: charlesvsi at aol.com
>> Phone: 512-331-9630
>> Cell: 505-331-1237
>>
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